Pattern installation for circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

A pattern installation of circular knitting machines. The pattern installation enables needles carried by a rotary needle carrier to be electromagnetically selected for operation according to a given pattern. Control jacks supported for movement in the needle bed are moved by setting members which in turn are operatively connected with armatures of a plurality of reversible electromagnetic means. A plurality of these electromagnetic means are arranged in staggered relation for each yarn feeder of the circular knitting machine and each electromagnetic means includes at least one control coil, preferably supplied with an impulse, in order to bring about actuation of armature which is displaced in this way between a pair of predetermined end positions.

United States Patent Gottsching [4 1 Apr. 4, 1972 54] PATTERN INSTALLATION FOR 3,365,916 l/1968 Ribler et al. ..66/5O CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES 3,449,928 6/1969 7 Schmidt et al 3,461,690 8/1969 Martinetz et al.... Inventor Herb"t Gottschmg, Berlin, Germany 3,500,662 3/1970 Ribler [73] Assignee. Mayer & Cie, Tailfingen, Germany Primal), Examine'hwm- Caner Reynolds [22] Filed: Sept. 2, 1969 Attorney-Arthur O. Klein [21] Appl. No.: 854,416 [57] ABSTRACT A attern installation of circular knitting machines. The at- [30] Forelgn Application Pnomy Data tar: installation enables needles carried by a rotary ne dle Sept. 7, 1968 Germany ..P 17 85 300.8 carrier to be electromasnetically Selected for Operation cording to a given pattern. Control jacks supported for move- 52 US. Cl. ..66/50 R men! in the needle bed are moved y Setting members which [51 1 In. CL I I 15/78 in turn are operatively connected with armatures of a plurality [58] Field of Search ..66/25, 50 A, 50 B, 50,75, reversible electmmagnefic means A Plurality Ofthese elec- 66/4O tromagnetic means are arranged in staggered relation for each yarn feeder of the circular knitting machine and each electromagnetic means includes at least one control coil, [56] References Cited preferably supplied with an impulse, in order to bring about UNITED STATES PATENTS actuation of armature which is displaced in this way between a pair of predetermined end positions. 3,229,482 l/ 1966 Farmer ..66/50 3,283,541 11/1966 De Cerjat ....66/50 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures P'A'TE'N'IEUAPR 4 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 3 IIWENTOR. HerberT GOTTSCHING mam PATENTEBAPR 4 I972 SHEET 2 BF 3 PAIENTEDAPR 4I972 3,653,229

SHEET 3 OF 3 Fig. 5

IN V EN TORI Herberf GOTTSCHING mm d? m AffOInQI PATTERN INSTALLATION F OR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a pattern installation for circular knitting machines with a rotating needle carrier, where a selection of needles is being carried out by means of setting elements which are being actuated electromagnetically according to the pattern. Pattern attachments, where setting elements are actuated electromagnetically in order to select needles have already been proposed several times (Swiss Pat. No. PS362,787 and German Pat. Nos. 438 387, 669 565, 630 794, 581 892). With all these known pattern installations, however, the problems which are encountered, especially the rapid and safe working of the electromagnets, the flawless holding of the setting members which act upon needles or pattern jacks, and a low amount of effort and safety in operation, have so far not been solved in a satisfactory manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to produce a pattern installation for circular knitting machines, which works through elements which act electromagnetically where a safe displacement of the needles and pattern jacks can be obtained, and which can be controlled easily by electronic means according to the requirements of the design.

According to the invention, this object has been achieved by causing the setting elements which act upon the control jacks of the needles, which are supported in the needle beds in a displaceable manner, to be connected either directly or indirectly with the armature of polarized control magnets which are arranged at the needle selection point of the pattern installation so that several of them are set out in a staggered formation, and which has at least one, preferably impulse supplied, control winding with the aid of which, it is possible to adjust the armature between two stable positions.

The polarized control magnets each have two separate permanent magnet circuits with opposing directions of flow and adjustable air gaps and an electromagnetic circuit which is superimposed upon both permanent magnet circuits and which acts upon a common armature. In order to ensure a safe control, the installation according to the invention holds the entire air space width between the armature and the core of the electromagnet constant in each position of the electromagnet. This result can be obtained by constructing the common armature of the control magnets in the form of a rod and by providing it in the magnetic throughflow areas with two conical sections, which are distant from each other and opposite to each other. These act with identical conical cutouts of an electromagnetic core which has small plates, in such a way, that when there is an axial displacement of the armature, the air space between one of the armature cones and the electromagnetic core becomes smaller and the air space between the other armature cone and the electromagnetic core becomes larger.

An important advantage of the pattern installation according to the invention can be based upon the fact that it is possible because of the features of the invention to construct the control magnets as flat bodies where the partly multi-part laminated magnet cores and the like are connected with each other by means of frame and bow members and are held in their opposing positions.

The demands for the lowest possible energy requirement for working the pattern installation has been met according to the invention, on the one hand, by springs supporting the armature of the control magnet in a friction free manner and, on the other hand, by also springs supporting the setting members which are indirectly connected with the armatures of the polarized control magnets including the interposed setting and intermediate elements. The result is that the pattern installation works with little loss of energy. An undesirable return adjustment of the setting elements through counter forces of the butts of the jacks or needles on the setting member is prevented by locking elements which work together with the setting members. The locking elements, according to the invention, are connected together to a common adjustment element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING Further features of the invention can be obtained from the following descriptions in combination with the drawing, where a constructional example of a pattern installation built according to the invention is schematically shown in several views in which:

FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal section through a polarized control magnet of the pattern installation which is formed as a flat body;

FIG. 2 is a portrayal of the control magnet corresponding to FIG. 1 in which only the conductor bodies for the lines in the magnetic field are shown and where the magnetic flow circuits have been entered;

FIG. 3 is a portrayal of several of the control magnets which have been allotted to a patterning installation in their opposite positions with various sectional portrayals of the control magnets according to the section lines 1-1 to 77 which have been entered in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section along line IV-IV in FIG. 3 through a pattern installation with a portrayal of the adjustment mechanism between the control magnets and the jacks; and,

FIG. 5 is a portrayal of a pattern installation which has been mounted on a circular knitting machine.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 3 show the construction of control magnets 10 which have been formed as flat bodies. They each have two frame parts 11 and 12 separated from each other which extend along their longitudinal sides and which are connected with each other by means of transverse bridges, not shown.

Situated in the frame parts in the central area are two electromagnetic cores 13 and 14 which are formed from plates arranged in layers, two pairs of permanent magnets 15, 16 and 17 and 18 and soft iron bridges 19 and 20. The two soft iron bridges l9 and 20 are adjustably arranged in the frame parts 11 and 12 for adjustment in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the control magnets in a manner not further described, so that the width of the air space which they form together with the permanent pair of magnets 15, 16 or 17, 18 respectively, which are allotted to them, can be altered. In the construction example which is portrayed here, the air space between the soft iron bridge 19 and the two permanent magnets 15 and 16 have been fixed by means of small inserted spacer plates 21 which are made from a non-magnetized material. In the same way, small spacer plates 22 have been inserted between the soft iron bridge 20 and the permanent magnets 17 and 18. Electric coils 23 and 24 are wound around the two electromagnet cores l3 and 14.

The control magnet has an armature 25 which is in the form of a rod with its two ends 251 and 252 on either side protruding beyond the magnets. The rod is equipped with two spaced cones 26 and 27 which are directed opposite to each other. These two cones 26 and 27 coact with corresponding conical limitation surfaces 131 and 141 or 132 and 142 in such a way, that with an axial displacement of the armature rod 25, the air gap between cone 26 and surfaces 131, 141 diminishes while the air gap between the other cone 27 and the conical limitation surfaces 132 and 142 of the two electromagnetic cores 13 and 14 is enlarged to the same extent, so that the total air gap which exists between the two cones 26 and 27 and the two electromagnetic cores l3 and 14 has the same dimension in each position of the armature rod 25. The limitation surfaces 131, 132 and 141, 142 of the electromagnetic cores have been given a surface cover which cannot be magnetized, so that they make the release of the cones 26 and 27 easier when reversing the polarized control magnets.

1. In a pattern installation for a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle carrier where needles are electromagnetically selected, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, setting members for moving control jacks which control the selections, a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively having armatures connected operatively with said setting members, said plurality of electromagnetic means each including a polarized reversible control magnet system and said plurality of electromagnetic means being arranged in a plurality of staggered series for a given knitting feeder, and each of said electromagnetic means including at least one electromagnetic coil adapted to be supplied by an impulse and acting on said armature to displace the latter between a pair of stable end positions, and each of said electromagnetic means has a pair of separate permanent magnet circuits of opposite throughflow and adjustable air gaps, respectively, with each electromagnetic means having an electromagnetic circuit superimposed on at least one of the permanent magnet circuits and said circuits acting on the armature of each electromagnetic means which is common to the permanent magnet and electromagnetic circuits thereof, and the armature of each electromagnetic means is in the form of an elongated rod having spaced from each other a pair of opposed conical portions respectively situated in the separate magnetic throughflows of the pair of permanent magnet circuits, each electromagnetic means having a pair of laminated cores respectively formed with conical cutouts matching the conical portions of said armature and respectively situated in alignment therewith so that upon axial movement of said armature the gap between one of said armature cone portions and said cores at one of said cutouts thereof will become smaller while the air gap between the other of the conical portions of the armature and the other cutout of the electromagnetic cores will become correspondingly larger.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the total air gap at the pair of conical portions of the armature remains constant.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein each electromagnetic means has the form of a flat body having at least partly multiple-part laminated magnet cores and including frame and bridge members which hold the components together and maintain them in proper positions with respect to each other.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein a spring means of each electromagnetic means supports the armature thereof for friction-free movement.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein the armature of each electromagnetic means has a pair of opposed end portions and said spring means including between said end portions of said armature two pairs of springs with one of the spring pairs being situated perpendicularly with respect to the other.

6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said conical portions of said armature carry non-magnetic covering layers in said cutouts.

7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein each setting member and releaseable lock means coacting therewith are swingably mounted and a motion-transmitting component coupled with each armature and operatively connected with and common to said setting member and lock means to control the latter.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a pair of additional spring means respectively coacting with said lock means and intermediate member to support the latter also for movement in a friction-free manner.

9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein a support means which includes elongated supporting bars forms a common support for the several spring means for holding and supporting the setting members, the lock means, the adjusting component, and intermediate members.

10. In a pattern installation for a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle carrier where needles are electromagnetically selected in accordance with a predetermined pattern, setting members for moving control acks which control the selections, a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively having armatures connected operatively with said setting members, said plurality of electromagnetic means each including a polarized reversible control magnet system and said plurality of electromagnetic means being arranged in a plurality of staggered series for a given knitting feeder, and each of said electromagnetic means including at least one electromagnetic coil adapted to be supplied by an impulse and acting on said armature to displace the latter between a pair of stable end positions, and wherein said setting members are respectively connected indirectly to the armatures of said plurality of electromagnetic means by common components via two-armed levers connected to the armatures to be moved thereby, and a releasable lock means coating with each setting member, with said armature actuating the lock means, wherein each common component has the form of an elon gated control rod extending perpendicularly to the elongated armature of each electromagnetic means and having leaf springs between which said control rod is longitudinally adjustable, each setting member having the configuration of a two-armed lever one arm of which is operatively connected directly with said control rod, said locking means and an intermediate member between said control rod and armature both also being in the form of two-armed levers respectively, each having an arm operatively connected with said control rod.

11. In a pattern installation for a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle carrier where needles are electromagnetically selected, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, setting members for moving control jacks which control the selections, a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively having armatures connected operatively with said setting members, said plurality of electromagnetic means each including a polarized reversible control magnet system and said plurality of electromagnetic means being arranged in a plurality of staggered series for a given knitting feeder, and each of said electromagnetic means including at least one electromagnetic coil adapted to be supplied by an impulse and acting on said armature to displace the latter between a pair of stable end positions, and wherein said setting members are respectively connected indirectly to the armatures of said plurality of electromagnetic means by common components via two-armed levers connected to the armatures to be moved thereby, and a releasable lock means coating with each setting member, with said armature actuating the lock means, and wherein a spring means which includes a pair of springs between which each setting member is located coacts with each setting member to support the latter for swinging and shifting movement in one plane in a friction-free manner. 

1. In a pattern installation for a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle carrier where needles are electromagnetically selected, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, setting members for moving control jacks which control the selections, a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively having armatures connected operatively with said setting members, said plurality of electromagnetic means each including a polarized reversible control magnet system and said plurality of electromagnetic means being arranged in a plurality of staggered series for a given knitting feeder, and each of said electromagnetic means including at least one electromagnetic coil adapted to be supplied by an impulse and acting on said armature to displace the latter between a pair of stable end positions, and each of said electromagnetic means has a pair of separate permanent magnet circuits of opposite throughflow and adjustable air gaps, respectively, with each electromagnetic means having an electromagnetic circuit superimposed on at least one of the permanent magnet circuits and said circuits acting on the armature of each electromagnetic means which is common to the permanent magnet and electromagnetic circuits thereof, and the armature of each electromagnetic means is in the form of an elongated rod having spaced from each other a pair of opposed conical portions respectively situated in the separate magnetic throughflows of the pair of permanent magnet circuits, each electromagnetic means having a pair of laminated cores respectively formed with conical cutouts matching the conical portions of said armature and respectively situated in alignment therewith so that upon axial movement of said armature the gap between one of said armature cone portions and said cores at one of said cutouts thereof will become smaller while the air gap between the other of the conical portions of the armature and the other cutout of the electromagnetic cores will become correspondingly larger.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the total air gap at the pair of conical portions of the armature remains constant.
 3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein each electromagnetic means has the form of a flat body having at least partly multiple-part laminated magnet cores and including frame and bridge membeRs which hold the components together and maintain them in proper positions with respect to each other.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein a spring means of each electromagnetic means supports the armature thereof for friction-free movement.
 5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein the armature of each electromagnetic means has a pair of opposed end portions and said spring means including between said end portions of said armature two pairs of springs with one of the spring pairs being situated perpendicularly with respect to the other.
 6. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said conical portions of said armature carry non-magnetic covering layers in said cutouts.
 7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein each setting member and releaseable lock means coacting therewith are swingably mounted and a motion-transmitting component coupled with each armature and operatively connected with and common to said setting member and lock means to control the latter.
 8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a pair of additional spring means respectively coacting with said lock means and intermediate member to support the latter also for movement in a friction-free manner.
 9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein a support means which includes elongated supporting bars forms a common support for the several spring means for holding and supporting the setting members, the lock means, the adjusting component, and intermediate members.
 10. In a pattern installation for a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle carrier where needles are electromagnetically selected, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, setting members for moving control jacks which control the selections, a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively having armatures connected operatively with said setting members, said plurality of electromagnetic means each including a polarized reversible control magnet system and said plurality of electromagnetic means being arranged in a plurality of staggered series for a given knitting feeder, and each of said electromagnetic means including at least one electromagnetic coil adapted to be supplied by an impulse and acting on said armature to displace the latter between a pair of stable end positions, and wherein said setting members are respectively connected indirectly to the armatures of said plurality of electromagnetic means by common components via two-armed levers connected to the armatures to be moved thereby, and a releasable lock means coating with each setting member, with said armature actuating the lock means, wherein each common component has the form of an elongated control rod extending perpendicularly to the elongated armature of each electromagnetic means and having leaf springs between which said control rod is longitudinally adjustable, each setting member having the configuration of a two-armed lever one arm of which is operatively connected directly with said control rod, said locking means and an intermediate member between said control rod and armature both also being in the form of two-armed levers respectively, each having an arm operatively connected with said control rod.
 11. In a pattern installation for a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle carrier where needles are electromagnetically selected, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, setting members for moving control jacks which control the selections, a plurality of electromagnetic means respectively having armatures connected operatively with said setting members, said plurality of electromagnetic means each including a polarized reversible control magnet system and said plurality of electromagnetic means being arranged in a plurality of staggered series for a given knitting feeder, and each of said electromagnetic means including at least one electromagnetic coil adapted to be supplied by an impulse and acting on said armature to displace the latter between a pair of stable end positions, and wherein said setting members Are respectively connected indirectly to the armatures of said plurality of electromagnetic means by common components via two-armed levers connected to the armatures to be moved thereby, and a releasable lock means coating with each setting member, with said armature actuating the lock means, and wherein a spring means which includes a pair of springs between which each setting member is located coacts with each setting member to support the latter for swinging and shifting movement in one plane in a friction-free manner. 